Reusable bin assembly

Abstract

A bin assembly includes a container and a pallet. The container has a base and sidewalls that extend upwardly and outwardly from the base. The base includes a centrally disposed alignment means and at least one spaced apart locking portion. The pallet includes a centrally disposed alignment means that is complementary to the container alignment means and at least one spaced apart locking mechanism disposed on the pallet and that is complementary to the at least one spaced apart locking portion. The at least one spaced apart locking mechanism is configured to engage or disengage the at least one spaced apart locking portion upon relative rotation between the container and the pallet to respectively lock or unlock the pallet and the container.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bin assembly comprising:
 a container having a base and sidewalls extending upwardly and outwardly from the base, the base including a centrally disposed alignment means and at least one spaced apart locking portion; and 
 a pallet including a centrally disposed alignment means being complementary to the container alignment means and at least one spaced apart locking mechanism disposed on the pallet and being complementary to the at least one spaced apart locking portion, wherein the at least one spaced apart locking mechanism is configured to engage or disengage the at least one spaced apart locking portion upon relative rotation between the container and the pallet to respectively lock or unlock the pallet and the container. 
 
     
     
       2. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spaced apart locking mechanism extends between adjacent sidewalls of the pallet. 
     
     
       3. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one spaced apart locking portion is disposed on at least one corner portion of the container, and 
 the at least one spaced apart locking mechanism extends between adjacent sidewalls of the pallet. 
 
     
     
       4. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a plurality of apertures uniformly distributed along the base and the sidewalls to facilitate airflow within the container. 
     
     
       5. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spaced apart locking mechanism includes a spring configured to urge the at least one spaced apart locking portion into engagement with the at least one spaced apart locking mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The bin assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the spring is housed within an aperture. 
     
     
       7. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spaced apart locking portion includes a plurality of locking posts removably attachable to the container. 
     
     
       8. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spaced apart locking portion is slidably received within the at least one spaced apart locking mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The bin assembly of  claim 1 , wherein like pallets are configured to stack and like containers are configured to nest.